GETTING THE MOST FROM GOD'S WORD:

"Do NOT labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting LIFE..." - The Gospel of John 6:27 (NKJV)

A systematic and daily reading of the Word of God is important in maintaining a strong Christian life. Establish a daily quiet time with God and His Word. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you understand what you read. By following our daily Bible reading schedule through this blog, you will be able to read the Bible through in a year. Please note that you may utilize the ‘BIBLE READER’ app that is installed at the bottom of this webpage to assist you in reading the specified scripture portion for today.

To get the MOST from God's Word, please do the following intentionally:

1. REQUEST God to connect with you as you read the word of God with FOCUS and OPENNESS to see what God wants to speak with you.

2. READ the selected sections of Scripture slowly as you mark the words and phrases that intrigue you, even reading them the second time to get a better understanding.

3. REFLECT on what God is communicating to you; stopping long enough to let the seed of God's Word take root in your heart.

4. RESPOND to the passage speaking directly to God about what is in your heart, and then look out for ways to live out what you find - individually, and to others within your church and elsewhere.

As you read and meditate, ask yourself the following three questions:

a) What is God speaking to me through this passage?

b) Is there a command, a promise or a warning for me?

c) Is there an example for me to follow?

Please POST your comments below if there is a thought or message that the Lord has spoken to you through the passage that you are reading and meditating today. Please make sure that your post is aligned to the scripture passage mentioned at the header. All comments should pertain to the relevant scripture portions only, and should be aimed to glorify God (the true author of 'The Bible') & edify everyone who visits this blog site daily - both young and old. May God bless you abundantly for encouraging others through your comments!

Let's PRAY...

LORD, give me the desire to take a little time out of my busy schedule today as I read and meditate on Your Word. Give me this day MY DAILY BREAD. Speak to me clearly & lead me today as my Good Shepherd. Help me to be a blessing to others who interact with me as I attempt to be a living witness of Your Word today. In Your Name I pray, AMEN.

Monday, August 29, 2011

August 29 Bible Reading: Ezekiel Chapters 10-12

The COMFORT of GOD’s PRESENCE in OUR LIVES:Therefore say, 'thus says the Lord God: "Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone."’ (Ezek 11:16)

God here announced through prophet Ezekiel that He would do just the opposite of what leaders in Jerusalem expected; He would protect the exiles as their sanctuary, and they would become the remnant. Verses 16–21 include the most comforting words spoken by God so far in the prophecy. They will be taken captive, but also preserved, regathered, given the land, and converted upon their return. God explained to Ezekiel that the Jews taken captive and spread among foreign lands were actually the remnant whom God was protecting. God himself would continue as their sanctuary—a word in Hebrew that literally means a “holy place” or a “set-apart place.”

Wherever God’s people go, God goes with them. That was the comforting message that Ezekiel delivered to the Babylonian exiles (v. 16). They were far from home and had no temple such as the one at Jerusalem, where God’s presence was said to dwell. That same sense of isolation was going to be felt by the people of Judah when God scattered them throughout the ancient world (see Jer. 9:16; 52:28–30). But the Lord assured His refugees that He would be their “little sanctuary” wherever they went. Furthermore, He promised to eventually bring them back to the land of Israel (v. 17).

Since the exiles were far from the temple in Jerusalem, God Himself would substitute as their sanctuary. Jesus later would take the place of the temple (Matt. 26:61; 27:40; John 2:19), and through the Spirit His followers would become His temple (1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:5).

The promise of God’s presence among His people can be a great comfort to believers today who find themselves alone among those who do not know or honor God. The Lord is with us wherever we go. We can call on Him no matter what the circumstances around us. Just like God promised to be a “little sanctuary” for the Old Testament believers of Ezekiel’s day, in the New Testament, we will serve as “little temples” for God.

"If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” – Jesus Christ (John 14:15-18)

"Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor 6:19-20)

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About Me

Dr. Shibu Cherian is an Ordained Minister currently serving as the President of United In The WORD Ministries, Inc., a non-profit organization in the state of Georgia, through which he tries to make an impact in his spare time. He is a certified Chaplain, a Bible Teacher & has a passion for teaching
and mentoring. He is also a Premarital Counselor and is certified as a PREPARE-ENRICH Facilitator. He authors a Bible reading-meditation blog that is striving to draw people closer to God's Word. For more details, please visit his ministry website. You can follow Dr. Shibu on Twitter @Shibunissy. Be blessed!